Police in Mitooma District have arrested a Swahili teacher from Kanyabwanga Secondary School, Tumusiime Dominic, for his alleged involvement in an examination malpractice case during the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Exams.
Jennifer Kalule-Musamba, the Uganda National Examination Board Principal Public Relations Officer, has reported that Tumusiime is suspected of sharing an image that was claimed to be an examination material for the UNEB Biology Practical paper for the year 2023. This content was purportedly shared within a school teachers’ forum. The school’s Head teacher, Mugizi, alerted the police to the situation, leading to Tumusiime’s arrest. The case has been forwarded to the magistrate’s court in Bushenyi, and the suspect was expected to appear in court yesterday.
In a related incident in Kwania District, the head teacher of Inomo Secondary School has been taken into custody by the police on suspicion of tampering with an envelope containing mathematics Paper 1 examination papers. It is alleged that he received a sealed envelope at the examination station in the presence of other examination officials, including the UNEB Chief Scout, Area Supervisor, and security officers. There are concerns that the envelope’s content might have been compromised, and the police are currently investigating the matter.
In Nagalama, the police arrested the Head teacher of Paul Mukasa Secondary School in Kalagi for electronically sharing information that was believed to be a UNEB Examination paper. The Head teacher allegedly shared this material from his phone and attempted to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public. He is set to face charges related to aiding and abetting exam malpractice in court.
Furthermore, in Kampala, the police in Kabalagala, Makindye Division, have apprehended the Chief Invigilator at African Paarl Secondary School on suspicion of providing external assistance to the second shift of Chemistry students. During the practical examination for Chemistry Paper 3 on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, a handwritten piece of paper with suspected answers to the practical paper was discovered in the examination room under the Chief Invigilator’s supervision. Investigations into this matter are currently underway.
The UNEB Act 2021, Section 28, explicitly designates it an offense to damage, destroy, or manipulate an examination paper, examination material, or any other material or information. According to the Act, those found guilty of such actions may be subject to fines not exceeding one thousand currency points (equivalent to Twenty Million Shillings), imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
